Drug syndicate eyed in cop’s slay

Police investigators are now looking into reports that a drug syndicate was behind the killing of a policeman in Tondo, Manila last Thursday.

Sources at the homicide section of the Western Police District (WPD) said retaliation by a drug syndicate against the recent arrests of a number of drug pushers in Tondo could be one of the motives in the slaying of SPO4 Danilo Reyes, assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office-Service Support Group.

Reyes, 54, formerly assigned at the WPD-Station 7, was shot in the head at close range by a lone gunman along a narrow alley in Hermosa street, Tondo.

Reyes died on the spot while the gunman, described as about five-foot-five tall with light complexion, fled after the shooting. Probers said the gunman used a caliber .45 pistol.

Witnesses told probers Reyes, of Sta. Cruz, was a frequent visitor in Hermosa, Tondo, a known drug haven.

There are reports that Reyes was responsible for the recent apprehension of several suspects in a buy-bust operation in Hermosa street last week.

Meanwhile, WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong created a special team to go after the killer of Reyes, even as he downplayed the latest killing in Manila as a mere homicide and should not be considered as ambush slay.

The WPD has had several unsolved ambush style killings in the last two months.

Bulaong ordered his men to maximize their presence in the streets to thwart any attempt of ambush slays, even warning his 11 police station commanders of relief in case another ambuscade occurred in their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza warned Police Superintendent Clifton Empiso, WPD Station 6 commander that one more strike would result in his relief from his post

This, after the mayor personally led elements of the WPD Special Operations Group in confiscating two video karera machines along Araullo street in Sta. Ana, Manila yesterday morning.

Atienza just came from a Sama sa Masa community service program at the said street when barangay chairman Jaime Co of Barangay 776 reported to him that two video karera machines were being operated in two separate houses in the area.

Atienza immediately called WPD Special Operations Group chief, Police Senior Superintendent Ernesto Ibay and several of his men, and proceeded to the two houses that had the video karera machines.

The first machine was confiscated at the residence of a housewife at 248-E Araulo street, while the other machine was recovered at a room being rented by a 16-year-old at house number 2434, on the same street.

"This should serve as a warning to you and your men. It is impossible for you not to know about these illegal gambling operations because this has been common knowledge among the residents in the area," Atienza said as he reprimanded Empiso.

He warned Empiso that discovery of other illegal gambling operations and other illegal activities in the latter’s area of jurisdiction would definitely result in his relief. — With Edu Punay